Dozens of Calgarians gathered Friday morning to honour and remember Indigenous veterans from Southern Alberta who served in the armed forces.
As part of Indigenous Veteran’s Day, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who served in the Canadian Armed Forces were remembered at Calgary’s Field of Crosses along Memorial Drive.
“I’m very thankful that I can take part in these ceremonies, remembering all these veterans, soldiers and young men who went to war and risked their lives,” says cadet Rhett Wolf Leg.
The Field of Crosses remembers over 3,500 southern Albertans who made the ultimate sacrifice, some of which were Indigenous veterans from World War I and World War II.
But according to the chairman of the Field of Crosses, Indigenous veterans were treated much differently.
“(They) weren’t even allowed to serve, because of the British Army Act…they weren’t considered Commonwealth citizens,” says Sean Libin.
Libin says the government cut a deal that allowed Indigenous people to join the armed forces, only if they gave up their veteran’s benefits.
But for those who made it home, they faced further challenges like racial prejudice and discrimination.
“They made the same sacrifices,” says Libin. “They left families that they loved and they left dreams and hopes behind, but they weren’t treated the same.”
Canada only started recognizing Indigenous veterans 30 years ago.
“It may seem like long ago, but it’s really not, it was like 1994,” says Wolf Leg. “So, this is pretty new.”